Pipe wrench



Sept 3, 1929- B. R. cLAYBRoK 1,726,978

PIPE WRENCH Filed July. 21, 1927 JNVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 3, 1929.

UNIT-Eo STATES,

PATENT OFFICE.

BENNIE n. cLAYBnooK, or BRYANT, OKLAHOMA, AssIGNoR' or ONE-THIRD 'ro o. o. sNnLLiNGs AND ONE-THIRD To E. n. sNnLLiNGs, Born .or SHAWNEE, OKLAHOMA.

v Preis wai-:Noiry implication ied July 21,

This invention relates to pipe wrenches of that class in which. a flexible element is adapted to embrace or to be placed partially around the pipe or other object and engaged with the wrench so that when vthe wrench is shifted in one direction the flexible element will bind or jam upon the pipe or other work, and that when shifted inthe other direction the flexible element will release its binding 'acti-on' so as to permit the wrench to be given a new hold, such wrenches being particularly adapted for'use in str-inging casing in oil wells and on .pipe lines, though entirely capable of use in a large vaiiety of different circumstances.

One of the objects of the present invention Iis to provide a'pipe Wrench of the character stated wherein vthe flexible element is supported bya cable of wire or rope, and provide means wherebya continual tension is placed uponthe cable to draw it into the body of the wrench and thus cause it to bear tightly against the exterior faceof the work.

A further object is to provide means whereby the cable may be automatically ,clamped aiid releasedas the handle of the wrench is operated to turn the object to which the lwrench is applied.`

A still further obj ect is to provide a wrench of this character with a handle having a rigid braces the-cable and is adapted to be clamped in any adjusted positionl thereon to engage the work. f Other objects will appear in thecourse of the following description.

My invention is illustratedin the accompanying drawing, 'wherein Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of 1 a pipe tongs constructed in accordance with my invention;

` Figure 2 is al' fragmentary elevation of the head of the tongs;

Figure 3 is a-fraginentary elevation of the head end of the handle;

head, the rigid head having mounted'thereon 1927. Serial No. 207,510.

Figure r4-is a sectional view through the pivoted portion of the head.

Referring to this drawing, 10`designates vthe body of they wrench having a hollow or tubular. handle 11 and a head portion 12. The handle 11 at one end is screw-threaded for the reception ofa cap 13. The opposite fend. of this member 10 is recessed upon one face or reduced in thickness so as to provide a circular portion 14 andan outwardly pro- ]ectingextension 15, the circular portion having a circular wall 16 and the'eXtension having a rounded corner 17. The handle is longitudinally bored, as-at 18, this bore where it passes through the head 12 being reduced in diameter and emerging upon the inclined or vrounded face of the head.

I Fivotally mounted upon the portion 14 for limited swinging movement is the wrench head 19.l This is lb'ifurcated to receive the portions 14 and 15 on the body .of the wrench and is pivoted upon the head of the handle by means of a transverse bolt 2O.V Shoulders 21 on the head 19V limit the swinging Inovenient ofthe head. A formed with an oblique face 22, and mounted The end ofthe head is upon this oblique face 22 is a jaw 23 having a rounded toothed face 24. A bolt 25 connects the jaw tothe head.

The head 19 isformed with` a transversely extending weight 26 which bears against the end of the extension 15 when the parts are in the position shown in Figure 1, and the head is formed with a passage 27 outwardly Haring at its end for the passage of a cable 28. This cable extends into the hollow interior of the handle and is knotted at one end and provided with a washer 29 which bears against a spring 30, which in'turn bears against the end of the hollow interior of the handle so as to assist the outward pull on this cable 28. The

jaw A23 is slotted or otherwise formed so as to ii provide a passage for the cable and the eX- tremity of the cable carries upon it a tubular and slightly curved'jaw 31 provided with a cross head or transverse latch bar 32. The head 19 is formed directlyback of the jaw 23 rwith the two rearwardly extending hook- 23 and the j aw 31 and the cable. of the handle in the reverse direction will act to vrelievethe strain on the cable, thus perthe cable and the cable cannot slacken bym reason of' the fact that the rounded end 17 of the extension 15 will bear upon this cable and positively lock it from further outward movef ment. The jaw `23 will exert acamming action upon the pipe or other article and the pipe will be firmly gripped between the jaw A movement mitting theV wrench to be swung in position to take a new hold. Whenno pressure is on the handle, the spring will hold the cable pressed against the work. Obviously, the

Vgreater the strainn upon the cable, the more the cam-like jaw 23 will bite into the work land grip thereon. i

A wrench of the character described will never slip, is easily operated and itis stronger than any other wrench of the same character known to me, and particularly it does away with the use of a chain, which chain is very likely to break, particularly in using the lwrenchl as pipe tongs in operating on well casings, large sizes of pipe, etc., and pipe line fittings. I claim 1. A wrench ofthe character describedincluding a head and a handle, the head being formed with a face inclined to the longitudinal axis of the handle, the headand handle having a longitudinally extending bore opening upon said face, a flexible cable having one end inserted in said bore and the other end formed with a head, a spring within the bore engaging the near end of the cable and urging the cable to a retracted position, there being a cam member on the handle adapted to bear against the cable and clamp the same when the handle is turned in one direction to lockl the cable against outward movement through the head, the wrench head having a hook-shaped portion with vwhich the head of ythe cablel is vadapted to be engaged.

2. A pipe wrench including a handle, a head pivoted to thehandle for limited oscillation in the plane of the handle, the head having a face angular with relation t-o the longitudinal axis ofI the handle and head, a flexible element extending through the inclined face of the head and into the handle and having means at its outer end whereby it may be en- `aged with the head, a spring disposed within the handlev and acting to retract the flexible element, the handle having an extension rigid with the handle adapted to bear directly against and cla-mp the flexible element inward of the outer end of the head when the handle is shifted in a direction to place strain upon the flexible element and upon the work.

3. A pipe wrench including a handle having a longitudinally extending bore, a head pivoted to one end of the handle for oscillation in the plane of the handle and having an inclined face and a Haring bore opening upon the inclined face and aligning with the bore of the handle, a flexible element having a portion disposed within the bore and extending out through the inclined face of the head, the head and flexible element having means whereby the free end of the fiexible element may be detachably engaged with the head to form a bight, said handle having a prolongation rigid with the handle adapted when the handle is shifted in one direction with relation to the head to bear against the flexible element'to clamp it, and elastic means disposed within the bore acting to retract the cable.

4. A pipe wrench having a handle and a head pivoted to the handle for limited oscillation in the plane of the handle, the head having an inclined face, a jaw detachably mounted upon said inclined face and having teeth, the handle being longitudinally bored and the head having an opening flaring outward through the jaw, a flexible element disposed within the bore of the handle and extending through the bore of the head and jaw, a spring within the handle acting to retract the flexible element, a second jaw mounted upon the flexible element adjacent its free end and having teeth, and means for detachably engaging the free end of the flexible element with the head.

5. A pipe wrench having a handle and a head pivoted to the handle for limited oscillation in the plane of the handle, the head having an inclined toothed face, the jaw, head and handle being longitudinally bored, said bore flaring at the point where it passes through the head and jaw, a Hexible element disposed within the bore of the handle and extending through the bore of the head and jaw, a spring within the handle acting to retract the flexible element, a second jaw mounted upon the flexible element adjacent its free end and having teeth, means for detachably engaging the free end of the fiexible element with the head, .said second named jaw comprising a tubular portion through which the cable passes, and a clamp mounted thereon for clampingly engaging the cable.

6. A pipe wrench having a handle and a. lhead pivoted to the handle for limited oscillation in the plane of the handle, the head having a face inclined to the longitudinal axis of the handle and having teeth carried by said inclined face, the handle being longitudinally bored and the head having an opening communicating with the bore in the handle and Haring outward tov the outer face of the jaw, handle is turned relative to the head, and a flexible element disposed Within the bore of means Carried upon the head for engaging the the handle and extending through the bore free end of the flexible element. 10 of the head and jaw, means for retreating In testimony whereof I hereunto aiix my 5 said flexible element, means carried by the signature.

handle and rigid therewith and clamping directly against said flexible element When the BENNIE R. CLAYBROOK. 

